Pompey plead with Premier League for right to sell players

All is not well at Portsmouth's Fratton Park home

Tweet

Print Share

 

Also In The News

Bayern Munich 2-1 Fiorentina
By Matt Hallam.

• One in three students cannot identify Brown as Labour leader
• Mother charged over 'hazardous substance' daughter murder
• Jobs at risk after British Readers Digest files for administration

 

Thursday, 18, Feb 2010 05:03

By Alistair Potter.

Portsmouth have made special representation to the Premier League to be allowed to sell players outside of the transfer window, according to reports.

The cash-strapped club presented documentation to the High Court this week to prove they have the means of meeting a tax bill believed to be around £11.5 million.

But with money still proving hard to come by, despite Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai's takeover earlier this month, Pompey have asked for special dispensation to sell off some of their more valuable assets on the playing staff to make ends meet.

According to the BBC, Portsmouth released a statement confirming the request and are looking to sell off star Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj, midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng and defender Mark Wilson.

However, the Fifa-imposed transfer window closed in England on February 1st and permission for the unusual request would need to be granted by both the domestic and world governing bodies.

Portsmouth are currently in dire straits both on and off the field, with overall debts thought to be in the region of £60 million and the team sitting bottom of the Premier League and eight points adrift of safety.

A winding-up order was issued in the High Court by HM Revenue and Customs last week, although the club escaped being forced into administration or liquidation - temporarily at least.